Firozabad

Introduction

Firozabad is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India, near Agra. It is the centre of India's glassmaking industry, and it is known for the quality of the bangles and glassware produced here.

Three days in Firozabad

Day one: Start in Firozabad, the glass city of Uttar Pradesh, and get your bearings in its bangle and glassware workshops, where the trade that defines the town is on show. Spend the afternoon wandering the markets where finished glass and bangles are sold, and take your time over the colours and shapes rather than rushing between stalls. In the evening, eat where the locals do and try the street food of the region.

Day two: Give the day to the crafts themselves. Watch glass being shaped and bangles being finished, and talk to the people who work the furnaces and the small units that supply the bigger markets. The heat and noise are part of the experience, so pace yourself and break for chai. Weather here swings between a hot, dry summer and a cool winter, so plan your hours around the season.

Day three: Use Firozabad as your base for a wider look at this part of India. Agra is within reach, and the run there and back makes an easy day out from the city. If you would rather stay close, revisit the workshops and markets you liked best and pick up glassware to take home. Either way, keep the last evening slow and leave time to eat well before you go.